The Superior Health Foundation announced $271,000 in funding across 11 grants in its third grant cycle of 2026, including a $100,000 U.P. Health Impact Grant to Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center’s Sawyer Dental Project.
The awards also include four additional U.P. Health Impact Grants and six Equipment Grants addressing behavioral health/SUD, healthy food and wellness, maternal/infant health, accessibility, EMS/first aid, and hospice.
Oral health has been a funding priority in recent years for the Foundation. In 2025, SHF awarded $75,000 to My Community Dental Centers addressing the U.P.’s dental workforce shortage, and $25,000 to UPCAP for oral health services for U.P. Veterans.
“Oral health continues to surface as one of the U.P.’s most persistent gaps, whether it’s workforce shortages, aging equipment, or the distance families travel for basic care. This grant meets that need where it’s most acute: a rural clinic that’s one of the only Medicaid-accepting dental providers for miles,” said Superior Health Foundation CEO Megan Murphy.
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center (UGL) received $100,000 to replace outdated dental equipment at its Sawyer Family Health Center, located in KI Sawyer.
The center is one of only two dental providers serving the Gwinn/Sawyer area and the only one in the immediate area that accepts Medicaid patients.
Many residents would otherwise need to travel 20-40 miles or more to access dental care, creating significant barriers for low-income families, older adults, and individuals with limited transportation.
Housing shortages have pushed more families into the Gwinn/Sawyer area, driving up demand for dental care while capacity has stayed flat, leading to longer wait times and more residents relying on emergency care for untreated dental conditions.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Superior Health Foundation for its generous $100,000 investment in UGL’s new Integrated Health Practice in the Sawyer community. This funding will allow us to purchase critical dental equipment that will expand access to high-quality oral health services for individuals and families throughout the area,” said Trevor Hodges, Chief Executive Officer of Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center.
“Oral health is an essential part of overall health, and this support helps us bring comprehensive, integrated care closer to the people who need it most. The Superior Health Foundation’s partnership is helping us ensure long-term, stable access to dental care while strengthening the health and well-being of our community for years to come.”
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